Australia are a very good side but they'll have to adapt quickly in India: Kane Williamson

After getting whitewashed at the hands of India on their previous tour in 2013 by a 4-0 margin, Australia under the captaincy of Steven Smith will look to change their fortunes around in the upcoming tour which also comprises of 4 Tests. Despite winning their last series against Pakistan by a 3-0 margin, the Aussies will be wary of the fact that these are completely alien conditions and their performances in the subcontinent have been horrendous, to say the least in the past few years.

But Australia will gain heart from the fact that unlike the other teams they got to prepare for this particular series for a long time as BCCI announced Team India’s schedule for the 2016-17 home season in June-July last year. Australia will be slightly in an advantageous position as they can prepare after keeping a close look at the performances of England and New Zealand. They will surely try to not commit the mistake which the Kiwis and the Englishmen did which resulted in 3-0 and 4-0 thrashings.

New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson feels that Australia is a good side but they have to adapt to the conditions very quickly if they have to succeed in the series. “It’s a very tough place to tour. Australia is a very good side and they’ll have to adapt quickly. It also depends on a lot on the surfaces they may come up against,” Williamson was quoted as saying by the Cricbuzz.

“They (India) have 13 Test matches at home this summer and a lot of the surfaces have been very, very different. They (India) have 13 Test matches at home this summer and a lot of the surfaces have been very, very different. They’ve spent a lot of time in India. They know what to expect. I’m sure they’ll fight hard,” the Kiwis skipper added.

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With the opening Test just more than a fortnight away, Australia has some injury issues with captain Steve Smith and Mathew Wade who is running against time to recover from the injury and play the opening Test in Pune from 23rd February. Aussie coach Darren Lehmann though wasn’t bothered with it and said they are recovering well and is expected to fit for the opening Test.

“They’re all good,” Lehmann said before leaving for Dubai, where they are holding a preparatory camp ahead of the gruelling tour. “So that’s a bonus, everyone fit to pick from and fit to prepare.
“If there was any doubt, he (Wade) wasn’t going to get on the plane. Unless something flares up during the Dubai leg or tour game (in Mumbai), we’ll stay status quo. The bonus with the squad is you’ve got someone who can keep pretty well. That’s handy, having that just in case something happens,” he concluded.